The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-26
a BaTTiSte['S St0TQ.

Walter Digby, barrister-at- law and a gentleman of the press, sat in his chambers slipping his coffee and re- viewing his life. The Tdison Tetye of the one occupation was that it was his breakfast hour, and the other that it was the twenty-seventh anniversary of his birth. He was in serious though not melancholy mood this morning. The train of thought, nat ural on such an occasion, had led up to the realization of the possibility that he might be failure in liie This contingency led Walter to survey his past and contemplate his future. His soliloquy ran somewhat in this wise:
 '1 was born neither lucky nor rich. My father, a failure in trade, became faint t-hearted and left me poor but honest lad to the tender mercies of his brother, retired ironmonger of the town of Bristol, with no children, a considerable bankers balance and strong interest ill political affairs. The said uncle early discerned in me the premonitions of genius, and formed the highest hopes of me as future leader in the cause of reform. He sent me to lOxford, and, as the royal road to parliamentary life, ordered me to become barrister. This injunction I duly obeyed. 1 kept my terms, read my books and passed my examina- tions, and was duly called.
 But" and there was reproachful tone as he proceeded in his searching lf-examination, "Cui bono? I have not obtained brief. have not con- tested constituency. No, I have wandered abroad, led Bohemian life, figured in second-rate South Kensing- ton society, at balls, at homes,' and garden parties; obtained some reputa- tion for lawn tennis and some fame for flirting. l am now three years off thirty, it is four since 1 was called my patron uncle is close on three score, and my success ill law and serv- ices to reform consist in casual visits to the courts and occasional contribu- tions to the papers,"
 As was natural, good resolutions followed this inward searching of heart. He would at once settle down to legal treatises and the law courts, abhor clubs and anathematize draw ing-rooms, "cut" the good fellows, and avoid the social sirens, study the land question and deliver lectures at the workingmen's clubs. This course car ried out in his mind, Walter pro- ceeded to perform his daily penance at the desk, with resolution in his mind and something like peace in his heart.
 He Loyalty observed his self-denying ordinance. South Kensington draw ing-rooms knew him no more that season the "Loungers" had to lament deserter. He cast off all his friends, retaining but two or three kindred spirits. Henceforth, diligently at tending the courts, reading up cases, writing for the press and studying speeches, he lived laborious days. But no briefs came. Being without back stair influence the solicitors passed him over without thought. Nor could he work up sufficient belief in "thc religion of humanity" to dis course to "the great unwashed" on the virtues of universal suffrage and the vice of aristocracy. But still he per- severed, and actually allowed himself only two weeks holiday in the long vacation at the lakes, instead of two months-as of yOre-at foreis n water ing places. And he returned ready to renew the struggle with greater ardor.
 But his fall was at hand. A per- fumed little missive awaited him at his chambers.
 SOUTH WASHINGTON, Monday.-DEAR MIR. DIGBY: l haven't seen you for an age, but hear you return to town to-day. giye my last garden party on Wednesday, at three, and shall think you have gone oyer tO Rome or utterly f0rsaken your sincere friend,
 MARIAN LAMINGTON.
 Mrs. Marian Lamington was the one member of the fair sex to whom Wal ter Digby had been faithful in his friendship. Having husband twenty years her senior, who lived and had his being on Change, she had large amount of spare time on her hands, which she partially consumed by giv- ing garden parties in the summer and "at homes" in the winter, at which she endeavored to collect as many promis- ing young men and interesting young ladies as possible. Walter had been a habitue at these reunions, and had be- come one of Mrs. Lamington's favor- ites. During his reformation he had